Herb Conaway

Herb Conaway
Born	Herbert Clark Hoover Conaway Jr. 30 1, 1963
Birthplace	Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, physician
Known for	U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district; member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1998–2025)
Website	[herbconaway.com Official site]

Herbert Clark Hoover Conaway Jr. (born January 30, 1963) is an American politician, physician, and former United States Air Force officer who has served as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district since January 3, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Conaway previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly for more than a quarter century, representing the 7th legislative district from 1998 to 2025. Named after President Herbert Clark Hoover, Conaway built a career that bridged medicine and public service, bringing a physician's perspective to legislative debates on healthcare, public health, and social policy. During his tenure in the General Assembly, he held a number of leadership positions, including Deputy Speaker (2002–2005 and again from 2022) and Majority Whip (2014–2017). In the 2024 election, Conaway won the race for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, succeeding Andy Kim, who vacated the seat to run for the United States Senate.

Early Life

Herbert Clark Hoover Conaway Jr. was born on January 30, 1963, in Trenton, New Jersey. He was raised in the state and grew up in a family that valued public service and education. His mother, Eva Christine Conaway, was a significant influence in his life; she died in July 2014.

Conaway's full name, Herbert Clark Hoover Conaway Jr., reflects a family naming tradition honoring the 31st President of the United States. He was raised in Burlington County, which later became the core of his legislative district. His upbringing in central New Jersey shaped his understanding of the communities he would eventually represent, including both suburban and rural areas of the county.

From an early age, Conaway pursued academic and professional paths that would combine scientific rigor with civic engagement. His trajectory toward both medicine and politics reflected a commitment to addressing community needs through both direct service and systemic change.

Education

Conaway pursued a rigorous course of higher education that prepared him for careers in both medicine and law. He earned his M.D. degree, which enabled him to practice as a physician, and also obtained a J.D. degree, giving him legal training that would prove valuable in his legislative career. His dual training in medicine and law distinguished him among New Jersey legislators and informed his approach to policymaking, particularly on health-related issues. Conaway's educational background enabled him to analyze proposed legislation from both clinical and legal perspectives, a combination that his colleagues and observers noted was relatively uncommon in state legislatures.

Career

Military Service

Before entering politics, Conaway served in the United States Air Force from 1992 to 1996, achieving the rank of Captain. His military service provided him with leadership experience and a connection to veterans' issues that he would carry into his political career. As a physician in the Air Force, Conaway combined his medical training with military service, treating service members and their families during his four years of active duty.

Medical Career

Conaway practiced medicine alongside his political career, maintaining his identity as a physician even while serving in the legislature. His medical background became a defining feature of his legislative work, as he frequently drew upon clinical experience to inform his positions on healthcare policy. NJ Spotlight profiled Conaway in 2015, noting that he brought "a physician's perspective to healthcare issues" in the General Assembly, a vantage point that shaped his approach to legislation on topics ranging from vaccination policy to health insurance regulation.

New Jersey General Assembly (1998–2025)

Conaway was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1997, taking office on January 13, 1998, to represent the 7th legislative district, which encompasses much of Burlington County. He succeeded Diane Allen, who moved to the New Jersey Senate. Over the course of more than 26 years in the Assembly, Conaway became one of the longest-serving members of the chamber and rose to positions of significant influence within the Democratic caucus.

Leadership Positions

Conaway held several leadership roles during his time in the General Assembly. He served as Deputy Speaker from 2002 to 2005, a position that placed him among the top-ranking members of the chamber. He was later selected as the Majority Whip from 2014 to 2017, a role in which he was responsible for coordinating votes within the Democratic caucus and ensuring party discipline on key legislation. Beginning in 2022, Conaway was again appointed Deputy Speaker, a position he held until his departure from the Assembly at the end of 2024.

Legislative Work

Throughout his tenure, Conaway focused on healthcare, public health, and social policy. His dual background as a physician and attorney made him a central figure in debates over health-related legislation in New Jersey.

One notable area of his legislative involvement was vaccination policy. In 2011, Conaway was involved in discussions surrounding a bill that addressed vaccination exemptions in New Jersey. The legislation attracted significant attention as it dealt with the balance between public health imperatives and individual choice regarding childhood immunizations. Conaway's medical expertise positioned him as a key voice in these debates, as he could speak with clinical authority about the public health implications of various policy approaches.

Conaway also addressed issues related to healthcare access, insurance reform, and the opioid crisis during his years in the Assembly. His consistent focus on health policy earned him recognition from both legislative colleagues and healthcare advocacy organizations across the state.

As a representative of Burlington County, Conaway also worked on local issues affecting his constituents, including education funding, transportation infrastructure, and economic development in the 7th legislative district.

Financial Disclosure

As a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, Conaway filed annual financial disclosure statements as required by law. These documents, publicly available through the New Jersey Legislature's ethics records, provided transparency into his financial interests during his years of service. His disclosures from 2004 through 2012 are accessible through the New Jersey Legislature's website.

2024 Congressional Campaign

In 2024, Conaway ran for the United States House of Representatives in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district. The seat became open when incumbent Andy Kim chose to seek election to the United States Senate rather than run for re-election to the House. Conaway won the Democratic nomination and subsequently won the general election, securing the congressional seat.

The 3rd congressional district, which encompasses portions of Burlington County and other areas of central New Jersey, overlapped significantly with the 7th legislative district that Conaway had represented for over two decades, providing him with strong name recognition and deep community ties among voters.

U.S. House of Representatives (2025–present)

Conaway was sworn in as a member of the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025, succeeding Andy Kim. His successor in the New Jersey General Assembly's 7th district seat was Balvir Singh.

Committee Assignments

In November 2025, Conaway announced that he had been selected to replace former Representative and Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill on a congressional committee, expanding his portfolio of responsibilities in the House.

Legislative Activity and Constituent Services

In his first term, Conaway has been active in securing funding for his district and engaging with constituents on key policy issues. In February 2026, Conaway announced that he had secured $12.75 million in Community Project Funding for projects within New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, directing federal resources toward local infrastructure, community development, and public service initiatives.

Conaway has held town hall meetings in his district to address constituent concerns. In November 2025, he held a public town hall in New Jersey where he discussed the federal government's operations, stating that he could not support a particular government funding measure that had been passed. The event was broadcast on C-SPAN.

Policy Positions

As a member of Congress, Conaway has taken public positions on a number of national issues. In January 2026, he released a statement marking the anniversary of the January 6th Capitol attack, reflecting on its significance and implications for American democracy.

On immigration policy, Conaway has been critical of certain federal enforcement actions. In February 2026, he issued a statement criticizing Department of Homeland Security funding in connection with allegations regarding the conduct of ICE agents, arguing that certain enforcement actions had increased danger in communities rather than enhancing safety.

In February 2026, ahead of the State of the Union address, Conaway announced that he would bring constituent Jocelyn Cabrera as his guest to the address, a gesture commonly used by members of Congress to highlight specific policy concerns or personal stories from their districts.

Political Standing

Conaway has maintained support within the Democratic Party at both the district and state levels. In February 2026, the Monmouth County Democratic organization endorsed Conaway alongside U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. at the county convention, signaling party unity and support for his re-election efforts.

His former chief of staff, Jonathan Chebra, announced in February 2026 that he would seek the Democratic endorsement for a Burlington County commissioner seat, reflecting the broader political network that Conaway has built over his decades in New Jersey politics.

Personal Life

Conaway resides in New Jersey and has maintained close ties to Burlington County throughout his career. His mother, Eva Christine Conaway, passed away in July 2014.

In addition to his political career, Conaway has maintained his identity as a practicing physician, a role that has informed both his personal worldview and his approach to public service. He holds both M.D. and J.D. degrees, reflecting his dual professional commitments to medicine and law.

Conaway frequently uses the designation "M.D." in his official communications as a member of Congress, underscoring the importance of his medical background to his public identity and legislative focus.

Recognition

Throughout his career in the New Jersey General Assembly and subsequently in the U.S. Congress, Conaway has received attention for his work at the intersection of healthcare and public policy. His profile in NJ Spotlight in 2015 highlighted his distinctive role as one of the few physician-legislators in the state, noting his ability to bring clinical expertise to legislative debates on healthcare topics.

His ascent through the leadership ranks of the New Jersey General Assembly—from Deputy Speaker to Majority Whip and back to Deputy Speaker—reflected the esteem in which he was held by his Democratic colleagues in the chamber. His election to Congress in 2024, after more than a quarter century in the state legislature, represented the culmination of a long career in New Jersey politics.

The endorsement by the Monmouth County Democratic organization in 2026, alongside prominent figures such as Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., further reflected his standing within the state's Democratic Party.